Sambucus Nigra Research Articles

Clinical-Homeopathic Profile in the Pediatric Ward at the University Hospital - Brazil

Background: In 2004, the deployment of Homeopathy in the pediatric ward at the University Hospital of Gaffrée Guinle – UNIRIO (HUGG at the Federal University of the State of Rio de Janeiro) was initiated in conjunction with both the Pediatric and Homeopathy Service. A research project approved by the HUGG Ethics and Research Committee was prepared to survey the most prevalent diseases. A team composed of medical students and doctors participating in the homeopathy course was formed and underwent training, enabling them to use the established protocols of action. A partnership was established with the Fluminense Federal University(Universidade Federal Fluminense – UFF), for the supply of drugs. In early 2009, the research project started, followed by homeopathic treatment in the pediatric ward.
 
 Aim: To demonstrate the diseases and treatment using homeopathic therapy on patients in the pediatric ward at the HUGG-UNIRIO-Brazil.
 
 Methodology: A sectional clinical study was carried out on patients participating in a research approved and registered by the Brazilian Research Ethics Committee, named,"The study of the effect of Homeopathic Treatment as an Adjunct Therapy on patients Hospitalized in the Pediatric Ward of HUGG". Criteria of Inclusion: Newborns up to the age of 16 of both sexes were admitted to the pediatric ward of HUGG, from May to October 2009. The diagnosis for admission being: respiratory, gastrointestinal and/or dermatologic diseases. A consent form had to be accepted and signed by the person responsible. Inclusion depended on the availability of having the appropriate homeopathic medicine in stock. Criteria of Exclusion: Cases of discontinuation of the homeopathic treatment or medical records not completed correctly. The medical records were analyzed individually. Microsoft Office Excel 2007 was used for data collection and analysis.
 
 Results: 32 patients admitted: 80% treated with Homeopathy; Diagnosis for admission: 73% respiratory, 11.5% dermatological, 4% gastrointestinal and 11.5% other diseases (malnutrition, adenomegaly, eyelid edema); 37% had secondary diseases. An average of 4.7 medicaments (min 01-max09) was used per patient, 31% repeated the medication in two different dinamizations. “Diagnosis for admission and medication used”: a) respiratory: 79% Pulmao histaminum, 32% Antimonium tartaricum, 21% Natrum sulfuricum, 21% Sambucus nigra, 16% Ipecacuanha, 16% Nux vomica, 16% Medorrhinum; b) dermatological: 100% Apis mellifica, 33% Dulcamara, 33% Mezereum, 33% Psorinum, 33% Rhus toxicodendron, 33% Alumina; c) gastrointestinal: 100% Ipecacuanha, 50% Gambogia, 50% Alumina. Dinamizations used: 5, 6, 12, 30 and 200CH, and 200FC. 55.5% of the medication used were only local effect medicines, 45.5% of the medication used were in association with the general effect medicines.
 
 Conclusion: The need to use several homeopathic medicines was obseved. The practice of inpatients was shown to be similar to the emergency outpatient when using medicine for local effect and medicine for general effect. Due to the positive results obtained with homeopathy, patients not initially foreseen in the research were included in this study on demand from parents or persons responsible for the children. This study demonstrates the need for a greater number of patients to allow the creation of prescription protocols and case-control studies to identify the most effective homeopathic prescription techniques.

ЭКОЛОГО-ФИТОХИМИЧЕСКИЕ ОСОБЕННОСТИ ЦВЕТКОВ БУЗИНЫ ЧЕРНОЙ SAMBUCUS NIGRA L. В УСЛОВИЯХ УРБАНИЗИРОВАННОЙ СРЕДЫ

The impacts of the urbanized environment of Donetsk region on the contents of biologically active substances and heavy metals in black elderberry (Sambucus nigra L.) flowers and on the total antioxidant activity of their preparations were evaluated. The contents of lead, cadmium and mercury in all samples studied were within the tolerable limits specified for herbal medicinal raw products. The accumulation coefficients of lead and cadmium were found to decrease with increasing soil levels of these toxicants, whereas the level of mercury did not depend on the degree of soil pollution. The contents of active substances in all samples collected in Donbas conform to the requirements of the State Pharmacopoeia of the Russian Federation. In fact, the contents of carotenoids, flavonoids and hydroxycinnamic acids are increased in S. nigra flowers collected in urbanized areas; however, the contents of other phenolic substances (anthocyanins and tannins) are decreased. The contents of ascorbic and free organic acids are highest under moderately urbanized conditions, so as the antioxidant activity of S. nigra flower preparations is. The results suggest that prospects for the pharmaceutical use of S. nigra flowers collected in urbanized areas of Donbas are promising.

Green synthesis of bimetallic ZnO\u2013CuO nanoparticles and their cytotoxicity properties

In this study, a simple and green strategy was reported to prepare bimetallic nanoparticles (NPs) by the combination of zinc oxide (ZnO) and copper oxide (CuO) using Sambucus nigra L. extract. The physicochemical properties of these NPs such as crystal structure, size, and morphology were studied by X-ray diffraction (XRD), field emission gun scanning electron microscopy (FEG-SEM), and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). The results suggested that these NPs contained polygonal ZnO NPs with hexagonal phase and spherical CuO NPs with monoclinic phase. The anticancer activity of the prepared bimetallic NPs was evaluated against lung and human melanoma cell lines based on MTT assay. As a result, the bimetallic ZnO/CuO NPs exhibited high toxicity on melanoma cancer cells while their toxicity on lung cancer cells was low.

Phenol-rich alternatives for Rosa x damascena Mill. Efficient phytochemical profiling using different extraction methods and colorimetric assays

Damask rose is a well-established, abundant source of phytochemicals, as well as economically important essential oil—however, its cultivation is demanding and costly. In this paper, extracts from four raw plant materials—Salvia officinalis, Sambucus nigra, Matricaria chamomilla, Calendula officinalis, known to be rich in phenolic compounds, but also far easier to cultivate—were directly compared to those obtained from Rosa × damascena Mill. By combining diverse extraction methodologies (in a Soxhlet apparatus, ultrawave-assisted and microwave-assisted, using supercritical CO2) and complementary in vitro assays (radical scavenging, iron reducing, Folin–Ciocalteau and Al3+ complexation), it was possible to conveniently approximate and compare the phytochemical portfolios of those diverse plants. By factoring in the crop yields of different species, economically important conclusions can be reached—with pot marigold (C. officinalis) seemingly the most viable substitute for damask rose as a source of phenolics. Fatty acid and microelement analyses were also performed, to further enrich the chemical profiles of plant extracts. The paper also aims to collate and redesign multiple colorimetric assays frequently used while studying plant extracts in vitro, but criticized for their lack of correlation to in vivo activity. We show that they remain a viable tool for direct comparison of extraction methodologies, while highlighting their shortcomings.

Potential Use of Elderberry (Sambucus nigra L.) as Natural Colorant and Antioxidant in the Food Industry. A Review.

The food industry, in response to current consumer demand for natural and functional foods, is constantly evolving and reformulating traditional products formulations. Thus, during the last decades, multiple natural sources have been investigated to replace the need to add synthetic additives. In addition, the use of natural sources can also increase the nutritional quality of the food. With this in mind, elderberry is used in the food industry for certain purposes. However, its potential is much higher than the number of applications it currently has. Its high content of anthocyanins, as well as other polyphenols and vitamins, means that it can be used by the food industry both as a colorant and as an antioxidant. In addition, the incorporation of these bioactive compounds results in functional foods, with a high antioxidant capacity. Moreover, the inclusion of elderberry products in foods formulation increases their shelf-life, but the correct amount and strategy for adding elderberry to food should be studied to ensure a positive effect on nutritional and technological properties without affecting (or improving) the sensory quality of foods. Therefore, this manuscript aims to review the main bioactive compounds present in elderberries, as well as their potential uses in the food industry.

Ovarian steroid hormone secretion by human granulosa cells after supplementation of sambucus nigra l. extract.

Beneficial effects of Sambucus nigra L. (black elder) as a traditional medicine have been associated with the phytoconstituents including polyphenols, terpenes and lectins. Various antioxidant rich natural products have also been implicated with improvement of reproductive health and fertility, however, the effect of Sambucus nigra on the ovarian cell functions has not been investigated yet. The objectives of the present study were to screen the polyphenols in the elderflower and elderberry extracts, and to examine the secretion activity of steroid hormones 17beta-estradiol and progesterone by human ovarian granulosa cells HGL5 after supplementation of the extracts at a concentration range of 12.5 to 100 microg.ml-1. Qualitative as well as quantitative screening of polyphenols by high-performance liquid chromatography with diode-array detector (HPLC-DAD) analysis revealed rutin to be the most abundant polyphenol in both elderflower and elderberry extracts. In culture, neither elderflower nor elderberry extract caused any significant impact (p>0.05) in cell viability as studied by AlamarBlue assay in comparison to control. However, a dose-dependent stimulation of 17beta-estradiol release was detected by ELISA after supplementation of elderflower (at 50 microg.ml-1; p<0.01) and elderberry (at 100 microg.ml-1; p<0.05) extracts at higher doses used in the study. On the other hand, both elderflower and elderberry extracts stimulated the secretion of progesterone by HGL5 cells at a lower dose (12.5 microg.ml-1; p<0.05), as compared to control. Therefore, elderflower and elderberry extracts may have the potential to regulate steroidogenesis in ovarian cells.

The Effects of Polyphenol-Rich Black Elderberry on Oxidative Stress and Hepatic Cholesterol Metabolism

Black elderberry (Sambucus Nigar) with high polyphenol content has been reported to have a hypolipidemic effect, but its underlying mechanisms have not been well characterized. In the present study, we investigated the effects of polyphenol-rich black elderberry (BEE) on oxidative stress and hepatic lipid metabolism. The total antioxidant activity of BEE was evaluated. The expression of genes for lipid metabolism was measured in 50 or 100 μg/mL of BEE-treated HepG2 cells. The mRNA and protein levels of genes for cholesterol metabolisms, i.e., sterol regulatory element-binding protein 2, 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl coenzyme A reductase, and low-density lipoprotein receptor, were decreased by BEE. There was marked induction of genes for high-density lipoprotein metabolism, i.e., scavenger receptor class B type 1and ATP-binding cassette (ABC) transporter A1 in BEE-treated cells. The expression of canalicular efflux transporter for hepatic cholesterol and bile acids, such as ABCG5/G8 and ABCB11, was significantly increased by BEE treatment. There was no alteration of the lipogenic genes, whereas BEE significantly decreased the expression of genes for fatty acid oxidation. BEE significantly altered the expression of histone deacetylase and sirtuins. These data suggest that the hypocholesterolemic effects of BEE may be attributed to the alteration of genes for hepatic cholesterol synthesis and flux.

Sialic Acid Binding Sites in VP2 of Bluetongue Virus and Their Use during Virus Entry.

ABSTRACTBluetongue virus (BTV), a member of the Orbivirus genus, is transmitted by biting midges (gnats, Culicoides sp.) and is one of the most widespread animal pathogens, causing serious outbreaks in domestic animals, particularly in sheep, with high economic impact. The non-enveloped BTV particle is a double-capsid structure of seven proteins and a genome of 10 double-stranded RNA segments. Although the outermost spike-like VP2 acts as the attachment protein during BTV entry, no specific host receptor has been identified for BTV. Recent high-resolution cryo-electron (cryoEM) structures and biological data have suggested that VP2 may interact with sialic acids (SAs). To confirm this, we have generated protein-based nanoparticles displaying multivalent VP2 and used them to probe glycan arrays. The data show that VP2 binds α2,3-linked SA with high affinity but also binds α2,6-linked SA. Further, Maackia amurensis lectin II (MAL II) and Sambucus nigra lectin (SNA), which specifically bind α2,3-linked and α2,6-linked SAs, respectively, inhibited BTV infection and virus growth in susceptible sheep cells while SNA alone inhibited virus growth in Culicoides-derived cells. A combination of hydrogen deuterium exchange mass spectrometry and site-directed mutagenesis allowed the identification of the specific SA binding residues of VP2. This study provides direct evidence that sialic acids act as key receptor for BTV and that the outer capsid protein VP2 specifically binds SA during BTV entry in both mammalian and insect cells.IMPORTANCE To date no receptor has been assigned for non-enveloped bluetongue virus. To determine if the outermost spike-like VP2 protein is responsible for host cell attachment via interaction with sialic acids, we first generated a protein-based VP2-nanoparticle, for the multivalent presentation of recombinant VP2 protein. Using nanoparticles displaying VP2 to probe a glycan array, we identified that VP2 binds both α2,3-linked and α2,6-linked sialic acids. Lectin inhibitors targeting both linkages of sialic acids showed strong inhibition to BTV infection and progeny virus production in mammalian cells; however the inhibition was only seen with the lectin targeting α2,6-linked sialic acid in insect vector cells. In addition, we identified the VP2 sialic acid binding sites in the exposed tip domain. Our data provides direct evidence that sialic acids act as key receptors for BTV attachment and entry in to both mammalian and insect cells.

Sambucus nigra: A traditional medicine effective in reducing inflammation in mice

Ethnopharmacological relevanceSambucus nigra L. is a plant of European origin and popularly known as elder, elderberry, black elder, European elder, European elderberry, and European black elderberry, being described in pharmacopoeia of several countries. Its flowers and berries have been used in folk medicine to treat feverish conditions, coughing, nasal congestion, and influenza besides its popular use as anti-inflammatory, analgesic, and diuretic agent. Aim of the studyThe aim of this investigation was to elucidate the anti-inflammatory and the relaxant effect of the lyophilized aqueous extract obtained from S. nigra's flowers on in vivo and in vitro inflammation assays and on the isolated rat vascular and airway smooth muscle tissue. Material and methodsThe anti-inflammatory activity of the extract was investigated using carrageenan-induced inflammation model in the subcutaneous tissue of male Swiss mice orally treated with S. nigra extract (30, 100, 300 or 600 mg/kg). Leukocyte influx and the secretion of chemical mediators were quantified in the inflamed exudate. Additionally, histological analysis of the pouches was performed. N-Formyl-methionine-leucine-phenylalanine-induced chemotaxis, lipopolysaccharide-induced TNF, IL-6, IL-1β, IL-10 and NO production, and adhesion molecule expression (CD62L, CD49d and CD18, flow cytometry) were analyzed in vitro using oyster glycogen-recruited peritoneal neutrophils or macrophages (RAW 264.7) stimulated with LPS and treated with the extract (1, 10 or 100 μg/mL). The resolution of inflammation was accessed by efferocytosis assay, and the antinociceptive activity was investigated using carrageenan-induced mechanical hypersensitivity. Finally, the effect of the extract was evaluated in isolated rat aorta and trachea rings. ResultsThe oral treatment with S. nigra promoted reduction in the neutrophil migration as well as the decrease of TNF, IL-1β and IL-6 levels in the inflamed exudate. In vitro treatment with S. nigra decreased NO2−, TNF, IL-1β and IL-6 and promoted increase of IL-10 in LPS-stimulated neutrophils. Similarly, the extract reduced the NO2−, TNF and IL-6 in LPS-stimulated macrophages. Rutin, the major constituent of S. nigra extract reduced NO2−, TNF, IL-1β, and IL-6 and promoted the increase of IL-10 in LPS-stimulated neutrophils supernatant. The extract also shed CD62L and CD18 expressions. The extract was able to increase the efferocytosis of apoptotic neutrophils by increasing the IL-10 and decreasing the TNF levels. Additionally, the extract reduced the hypersensitivity induced by carrageenan and promoted a relaxant effect in isolated vascular and non-vascular rat tissue. ConclusionsS. nigra flowers extract presents anti-inflammatory effect by modulating macrophage and neutrophil functions including the production of inflammatory mediators and cell migration, by promoting efferocytosis and consequently the resolution of acute inflammation, besides exerting antinociceptive effects, scientifically proving its popular use as medicinal plant. Allied to the relaxant effect in both vascular and non-vascular smooth muscle tissue, S. nigra extract represents an important tool for the management of acute inflammation.

Lectin Affinity Chromatography for the Discovery of Novel Cancer Glycobiomarkers: A Case Study with PSA Glycoforms and Prostate Cancer.

Many clinical biomarkers in cancer are glycoproteins, but the majority of them only consider the protein levels. Indeed, only alfa-fetoprotein (AFP) in hepatocarcinoma and CA15-3 in breast cancer are clinically monitored for their glycoforms. Aberrant glycosylation occurs frequently in many of the glycoproteins synthesized by tumor cells and often produce changes in protein glycoforms that could be exploited as potential biomarkers for improving diagnosis, prognosis or to study the response to treatment. Ideally, the screening of potential biomarkers should be performed from noninvasive samples like serum or plasma, therefore these glycoproteins with tumor associated-glycoforms should be shed from the tumor cell membrane or secreted into the blood to be detectable. Glycosylation changes that are commonly associated with cancer transformation include fucosylation, sialylation, branching, and polylactosaminylation.Lectins are glycan-binding proteins that bind with great specificity to different glycan moieties. Lectin-based strategies to enrich or fractionate glycoproteins are being extensively used and hold promise in targeted analysis for cancer biomarker discovery. Here we describe the use of lectin chromatography to separate prostate specific antigen (PSA) glycoforms based on their sialic acid linkage from sera of patients with prostate cancer (with PSA levels in the range of 2-20ng/mL). In particular, agarose-bound Sambucus nigra agglutinin (SNA) lectin which has affinity for terminal α2,6-sialic acids on glycoproteins was used. The protocol included first a previous immunoaffinity step to enrich PSA and to avoid interferences of the most abundantserum glycoproteins. Then, the immunopurified PSA was loaded on the SNA chromatography and two fractions were obtained, the first one (unbound fraction) containing the PSA glycoforms withoutα2,6-sialic acid (basically α2,3-sialylated PSA glycoforms) and the second one (bound fraction) the α2,6-sialylated PSA glycoforms. The quantification of the PSA eluted in the two fractions allows for the determination of the relative content of both groups of PSA glycoforms. The percentage of the α2,6-sialylated PSA glycoforms is significantly decreased in aggressive prostate cancer compared to indolent prostate cancer and benign prostate hyperplasia, being a promising new glycobiomarker for prostate cancer risk stratification.

First report of Tomato black ring virus infecting raspberry and blackberry in Poland.

Raspberry (Rubus idaeus L.) and blackberry (Rubus fruticosus L.) are infected by at least 29 viruses, including the Tomato black ring virus (TBRV) (Martin et al. 2013). TBRV belongs to the genus Nepovirus (subgroup B) of the family Secoviridae and is listed as a plant pathogen in over 40 countries. TBRV infects a wide range of herbaceous and woody plants. In Poland, TBRV has been described on the plants of the following species: Tagetes patula, T. erecta, Cucumis sativus, Cucurbita pepo, Lactuca sativa, Solanum tuberosum, S. lycopersicum, Sambucus nigra, and Robinia pseudoacacia (Jończyk et al. 2004, Hasiów-Jaroszewska et al. 2015). To this date, there is no information on the incidence of TBRV in raspberry and blackberry in Poland. In the spring of 2019, 52 blackberry leaf samples and 408 raspberry leaf samples were collected from 4 plantations located in central Poland. None of the raspberry plants (cvs. Glen Ample, Polka, Sokolica), nor the blackberry plants (cvs. Thornfree, Polar, Gaj, Kotata) exhibited viral symptoms. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) was carried out for extracts from the 460 collected leaf samples to detect TBRV using commercial antisera (Loewe Biochemica GmbH, Germany). The results indicated that 9 samples (4 blackberry, 5 raspberry) were infected with TBRV. The isolates of the virus were transferred by sap inoculation and maintained in Nicotiana tabacum cv. Xanthi. Systemic ringspot, necrosis and patterned lines were observed on tobacco leaves. The presence of the virus in tobacco leaf samples was confirmed by reverse transcription PCR (RT-PCR). Total RNA was extracted from all 9 samples using the silica capture (SC) method described originally by Boom et al. (1990) and adapted to the detection of plant viruses by Malinowski (1997). Part of the CP gene was amplified with the CPF (5'-GCCTGTCTCTCTCGCAATG-3') and CPR (5'-AAGGAGCCAAACTGAAATGT-3') primer pair (Hasiów-Jaroszewska et al. 2015). Amplicons of the expected size (763 bp) were obtained for each sample. The amplified products were purified, sequenced in both directions, deposited in GenBank and assigned accession numbers: MT507387 to MT507390 and MT507394 for the isolates from Rubus idaeus and MT507391 to MT507393 and MN954654 for the isolates from Rubus fruticosus, respectively. The 9 newly obtained TBRV CP gene sequences, together with the 25 isolates deposited in GenBank, were aligned by ClustalW. The isolates obtained in this study showed a 99.0-100% nucleotides (nt) and a 98.7-100% amino acids (aa) identity in the part of the CP, respectively. Comparison of the part of the CP of the 4 blackberry and the 5 raspberry TBRV isolates with 25 TBRV isolates available in GenBank showed a 80.6-97.8% nt and a 87.9-99.5% aa identity, respectively. The results of the phylogenetic analysis have revealed that the TBRV isolates obtained in this study are closely related to 3 Polish isolates (AY157994, KR139941, KR139951) and 1 Bioreba ctrl Switzerland isolate (KT923164). These findings are of epidemiological significance due to the fact that TBRV was detected on symptomless Rubus plants, which therefore represent a reservoir of the virus and a threat in case of a symptomatic infection of sensitive cultivars. Accordingly, the results will assist in using appropriate strategies for reducing TBRV incidence in Rubus-growing areas. Moreover, this is, to the best of our knowledge, the first report of TBRV in raspberry and blackberry in Poland.

Divergence of Ethnobotanical Knowledge of Slovenians on the Edge of the Mediterranean as a Result of Historical, Geographical and Cultural Drivers.

State boundaries limit human contacts in a homogenous context of a landscape and its natural features, including plants. After nine centuries of separation, finally the two territories in Slovenia share the same political history. In this paper we tried to answer the question to which extent the past political borders, geographical and cultural drivers affect today’s traditional knowledge on wild plants use of Slovenians, living unified in the same political entity. Data were collected using 60 in-depth semi-structured interviews, from March to August 2019, in two municipalities: Komen at Karst and Izola in Istria concerning food, medicinal, economic use, and local customs. The results indicate a quite large divergence in ethnobotanical and ecological knowledge between the two studied areas. In the Komen area, many people still use wild plants daily for various purposes (Taraxacum officinale, Melissa officinalis, Urtica dioica, Cornus mas, and Sambucus nigra). In contrast, this is limited to fewer people in the Izola area and mainly to seasonal use of specific plants (Asparagus acutifolius, Rosa canina, Salvia officinalis, Foeniculum vulgare and Rubus caesius). Unusual for the Mediterranean is the use of young shoots of Clematis vitalba, in the Izola area prepared as omelettes. We can assume that these differences are partly due to minor differences in climatic conditions and partly due to the influence of different cultures and cuisines. In the first place, the impact of Austro-Hungarian eating habits and cuisine can be seen on the area around Komen. Moreover, temporal “layers of knowledge” across the time scale are additionally mixed by the immigration of people from other parts of Slovenia or abroad, or with the influence of local herbal specialists. At last, we conclude Komen area knowledge is alive and homogeneous, and more connected to their local identity.

FORMATION OF THE QUALITY OF UNFORTIFIED WINE MATERIALS OBTAINED FROM BLACK ELDERBERRIES

The use of local non-conventional raw materials will allow significantly enriching unfortified fruit wines with ascorbic acid and phenolic substances and make it possible to obtain products with increased biological value. The paper considers black elderberries grown in the forest steppe zone of Ukraine. It has been determined that they contain 12–13% of soluble solids, 6.9–8.1 of sugars, 0.93–1.2% of titratable acids, 33.4–53.1 mg/100 g of ascorbic acid, and 2331–3888 mg/100 g of phenolic substances. The pressing process and its dependence on the method of treating berries have been studied. It has been proved that juice extraction from black elderberries is the highest when they are pretreated with heat at 98±2°C for 3–5 minutes, with 15% of water added. Depending on the treatment method, juices retain ascorbic acid (15.8–33.4 mg/100 g) and phenolic substances (2538–3888 mg/100 g), which indicates their high biological value. Juices like these can be used to improve the biological composition of blended juices and wines. To ferment high-sugar black elderberry must, active dry yeast was used, namely the yeast races EC-1118 of the genus Saccharomyces bayanus (France) and ENSIS LE-1 or ENSIS LE-5 of the genus Saccharomyces cerevisiae (Spain). The musts were fermented for 36–62 days. The period of vigorous fermentation coincides with the period of initial fermentation and ends in 9–10 days, with accumulation of 12–14% of ethanol by volume. Unfortified wine materials obtained from black elderberries contain 22–38.3 mg/100 g of ascorbic acid (its content in wine materials is by 7.8–49.55% lower than in fresh berries) and 1750–3510 mg/100 g of phenolic substances (which is lower by 9.7–39.6%, as compared with fresh elderberries). The active acidity of black elderberry wine materials is 3.90–4.09 pH units, depending on the yeast race. A similar difference has been found for the redox potential (160–176 mV), which indicates that the wine materials from black elderberries are low-oxidised. The intensity of colour of the wine materials obtained from black elderberries (D420 + D520) varied from 3.08 to 3.20, and the colour shade from 0.88 to 0.92, which is typical of young red wines. These wine materials can be used to increase the quality and biological value of blended wines.

Green extraction of flavonoids and phenolic acids from elderberry (Sambucus nigra L.) and rosemary (Rosmarinus officinalis L.) using deep eutectic solvents

Green extraction of flavonoids and phenolic acids from elderberry (Sambucus nigra L.) and rosemary (Rosmarinus officinalis L.) using deep eutectic solvents

Characterisation of Some Phytochemicals Extracted from Black Elder (Sambucus nigra L.) Flowers Subjected to Ozone Treatment.

Elderflowers are a well-known source of bioactive compounds. The amount of isolated bioactive compounds may be increased by applying various abiotic and biotic factors. Gaseous ozone (10 and 100 ppm) was used in the process of preparing flowers. Next, the flowers were treated with sugar syrup to extract bioactive compounds. It was shown that this treatment, including the influence of extraction temperature, significantly affects the contents of polyphenols (liquid chromatography–mass spectrometry (LC–MS) methods) and vitamin C, as well as the antioxidant potential (cupric reducing antioxidant capacity (CUPRAC method)), the profile of volatile substances (head space–solid-phase microextraction (HS–SPME methods)) and the colour of the syrup (Commission Internationale de l’Eclairage (CIE) L*a*b* methods). The findings show that an increased dose of ozone and higher extraction temperature applied in the process of syrup production resulted in higher contents and different compositions of bioactive compounds. The highest contents of bioactive compounds were identified in syrup obtained from raw material treated with ozone for 15 min (concentration = 10 ppm) and extraction with sugar syrup at a temperature of 60 °C.

A nanophytosomes formulation based on elderberry anthocyanins and Codium lipids to mitigate mitochondrial dysfunctions

The development of nanomedicines to modulate the mitochondrial function is a great scientific challenge since mitochondrial dysfunction is a pathological hallmark of many chronic diseases, including degenerative brain pathologies like Parkinson's and Alzheimer’s diseases. To address this challenge, the mitochondriotropic features of the elderberry anthocyanin-enriched extract (Sambucus nigra) were combined with the self-assembling properties of the membrane polar lipids from Codium tomentosum in an innovative SC-Nanophytosomes formulation. Membrane polar lipids, obtained by a new procedure as chlorophyll-free extract, are characterized by 26% of non-phosphorus polar lipids and 74% of phospholipids (dominated by anionic lipids) containing a high degree of polyunsaturated fatty acids. The anthocyanin-enriched extract is dominated by a mixture of four cyanidin-glycosides, representing about 86% of their phenolic content. SC-Nanophytosomes engineered with 600 µM algae membrane polar lipids and 0.5 mg/L of the anthocyanin-enriched extract are nanosized vesicles (diameter =108.74 ± 24.74 nm) with a negative surface charge (Zeta potential = −46.93 ± 6.63 mV) that exhibit stability during storage at 4 ºC. In vitro assays with SH-SY5Y cells showed that SC-Nanophytosomes have the competence to target mitochondria, improving the mitochondrial respiratory chain complexes I and II and preserving the mitochondrial membrane potential in the presence of rotenone. Additionally, SC-Nanophytosomes protect SH-SY5Y cells against the toxicity induced by rotenone or glutamate. Green-fluorescent labeled SC-Nanophytosomes were used to reveal that they are mainly internalized by cells via caveola-mediated endocytosis, escape from endosome and reach the cytoplasm organelles, including mitochondria. Overall, data indicate that SC-Nanophytosomes have the potential to support a mitochondria-targeted therapy for neurodegenerative diseases.

Influence of abiotic factors on sambucus nigra l. Phenorhythmics under central chernozem conditions

This article is the research of the influence of meteorological conditions on the passage of phenophases on the example of black elderberry in the conditions of the Belgorod region. Direct dependence of the developmental phases of black elderberry on the meteorological conditions of the growing season was revealed. It was found that the course of phenological phases in representatives of this species growing in natural conditions is less dependent on the meteorological deviations of each specific year, in comparison with plants growing in artificially created environmental conditions.

Особливості фітотерапії цукрового діабету крізь призму коморбідності й профілактики ускладнень (огляд літератури)

Стаття присвячена огляду літератури з фітотерапії хворих на цукровий діабет (ЦД) крізь приз­му коморбідних процесів і профілактики ускладнень. У статті приділено увагу огляду складових частин рослин, що відповідають за гіпоглікемічну дію, таргетним шляхам їх дії, а також основним принципам і патогенетичним механізмам фармакологічної дії фітопрепаратів при ЦД. Наголошено на комплексності антиглікемічної дії, яка обумовлена взаємодією різних речовин. Автори детальніше зупинились на окремих представниках лікарських рослин, які найчастіше використовуються при лікуванні ЦД, таких як чорниця звичайна, галега лікарська, квасоля звичайна, бузина лікарська, аралія висока, кульбаба лікарська, оман високий, льон звичайний, аралія висока, момордика, гімнема звичайна, гуньба сінна, гінкго дволопатеве. Розглянуто основні комплексні препарати, протидіабетичні рослинні збори, дієтичні добавки, які є на фармацевтичному ринку України. Висвітлені основні підходи до застосування лікарських рослинних препаратів та їх роль у лікуванні та довготривалій реабілітації хворих на ЦД. Наголошено на необхідності проведення наукових пошуків зі створення полікомпозитних ліків рослинного походження багатоцільової дії та вдосконалення лікувально-профілактичних заходів за допомогою фітотерапії.

Natural Ingredients Common in the Trás-os-Montes Region (Portugal) for Use in the Cosmetic Industry: A Review about Chemical Composition and Antigenotoxic Properties.

The natural cosmetics market has grown since consumers became aware of the concept of natural-based ingredients. A significant number of cosmetics have an ecological impact on the environment and carry noxious and chemically potent substances. Thus, the use of natural and organic cosmetics becomes increasingly important since it is clear that topical treatment with cosmeceuticals can help improve skin rejuvenation. A substantial investigation into the benefits that fruits and plants can bring to health is required. Studies have shown that antigenotoxic properties are linked to anti-aging properties. Several studies have shown potential antigenotoxicity in natural ingredients such as Almonds (Prunus dulcis), Elderberry (Sambucus nigra), Olives (Olea europaea), and Grapes (Vitis vinifera). This review presents an overview of research conducted on these natural ingredients, the most common in the Northeast of Portugal. This region of Portugal possesses the most organic farmers, and ingredients are easily obtained. The Northeast of Portugal also has climatic, topographic, and pedological differences that contribute to agricultural diversity.

Biological Actions and Molecular Mechanisms of Sambucus nigra L. in Neurodegeneration: A Cell Culture Approach.

Sambucus nigra flowers (elderflower) have been widely used in traditional medicine for the relief of early symptoms of common cold. Its chemical composition mainly consists of polyphenolic compounds such as flavonoids, hydroxycinnamic acids, and triterpenes. Although the antioxidant properties of polyphenols are well known, the aim of this study is to assess the antioxidant and protective potentials of Sambucus nigra flowers in the human neuroblastoma (SH-SY5Y) cell line using different in vitro approaches. The antioxidant capacity is first evaluated by the oxygen radical absorbance capacity (ORAC) and the free radical scavenging activity (DPPH) methods. Cell viability is assessed by the crystal violet method; furthermore, the intracellular ROS formation (DCFH-DA method) is determined, together with the effect on the cell antioxidant defenses: reduced glutathione (GSH) and antioxidant enzyme activities (GPx, GR). On the other hand, mTORC1 hyperactivation and autophagy blockage have been associated with an increase in the formation of protein aggregates, this promoting the transference and expansion of neurodegenerative diseases. Then, the ability of Sambucus nigra flowers in the regulation of mTORC1 signaling activity and the reduction in oxidative stress through the activation of autophagy/mitophagy flux is also examined. In this regard, search for different molecules with a potential inhibitory effect on mTORC1 activation could have multiple positive effects either in the molecular pathogenic events and/or in the progression of several diseases including neurodegenerative ones.